He says that when issues which affect more than one ward need discussion forums should be set up for the public and council representatives to air their views.

Clr Khan says that if more single-ward committees are introduced they should have more powers, particularly over budgets. The budget for wards is currently allocated to the area committees, which approve or refuse councillors' requests for cash.

But Clr Khan says councillors' requests are nearly always accepted.

He said: "At the moment, it is no more than a rubber- stamping organisation. The real work is not done by the committee in these community projects, but by the ward councillors.

"We want more area committees and want to delegate more powers, so that local committees can decide their own priorities."

However, Clr Linda Wild, who chairs the Huddersfield Area Committee, said it had been a great success.

She said 47 projects had benefited from cash channelled via the committee.

She said £126,000 had been spent on schemes including clean-ups, facilities for young people, better street lighting and sports facilities.